A lush seven-acre park in the heart of Griffin Heights was surveyed Monday for improvements, which some hope to be a catalyst for constructive activity instead of crime and violence.

Pastor Rudolph Ferguson of New Birth Tabernacle of Praise Church on Harlem Street, a block away from the park, called on Tallahassee city officials to step in and the city appears responsive.

Ferguson's concern comes from what he says is more young people, ages 13 to 15, making drug deals instead of progressing in school or playing sports to keep them busy. That's where the park comes in, he said, adding he envisions a stage platform or pavilions similar to those at Tom Brown Park to foster a community park atmosphere.

Recent shootings and a laser focus on Tallahassee's alarming increase in gun violence has seized community attention.

"I see that we're lacking," said Ferguson on Griffin Heights, whose church hosted an emotional townhall meeting last month on gun violence. "Because we're lacking in a lot of positive areas, the negative things pick up.

"Once we start to add some more positive components to our community, we'll see the drugs, we'll see the guns and we'll see negativity begin to dissipate."

The passive John G. Riley Park, whose entrance sits across from Riley Elementary School, is accessible and scenic, with rolling grounds, a few tables and benches, a walking trail and open grounds on the north end.

The trail doubles as a short cut between streets and, especially at night, the park morphs into a venue for crime like drug deals and prostitution hidden from plain sight under the densely wooded area on the park's south end.

The Tallahassee Police Department's online crime reporting site shows eight incidents in the immediate vicinity of the park during the last six months, including two drug violations, disorderly conduct, petty theft and a commercial burglary. In the last 30 days there are reports of disorderly conduct, petty theft, a drug violation and weapons violation within 500 feet of the park.

Ferguson, city interim parks and recreation director Ashley Edwards and park superintendent Chris Lisenby walked through the park and brainstormed ideas on what's realistic at the park.

The park has purposely remained untouched for years, but more residents recently have asked for improvements.

"Back in the day, one of the things community leaders thought was, 'Hey, this is an opportunity for kids who may not get to see this wooded type of feel or have an opportunity to experience this and let that be a natural urban forest'," Edwards said.

The park is not without challenges, though. Half of the seven acres is a wetland terrain and slopes are another issue.

"We're very limited in what we can do because of that wetland," Lisenby said. "We can't put anything on top of the hill that may run into the bottom."

Park officials say trees won't be cut down but tree limbs can be thinned for more visibility, especially near the entrance. Edwards said she plans to present City Manager Anita Favors Thompson a plan for improvements.